# Will Fuller
**Will Fuller V** (William Fuller V, born 1994) is a former [American football](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-football) wide receiver from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who played six NFL seasons for the [Houston Texans](https://www.edgepedia.org/houston-texans) and [Miami Dolphins](https://www.edgepedia.org/miami-dolphins) after the Houston Texans selected him 21st overall in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft.[1](https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/miami-dolphins-sign-wr-william-fuller-v) • [2](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FullWi01.htm) His career was defined by deep-threat speed and repeated injuries: he played 55 games with 52 starts over six seasons, catching 213 passes for 3,136 yards and 24 touchdowns.[3](https://www.nfl.com/players/will-fuller/stats/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1994, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; 6-0, 184 pounds[1](https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/miami-dolphins-sign-wr-william-fuller-v) |
| Draft | First round, 21st overall, 2016 NFL Draft, Houston Texans[2](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FullWi01.htm) |
| College | Notre Dame, 2013-15: 144 catches, 2,512 yards, 30 touchdowns[4](https://www.houstontexans.com/news/the-history-between-bill-o-brien-will-fuller-17080113) |
| NFL career | 55 games, 52 starts, 213 receptions, 3,136 yards (13.5 avg.), 24 touchdowns[3](https://www.nfl.com/players/will-fuller/stats/) |
| Best season | 2020: 53 catches, 879 yards, 8 touchdowns, 16.6 yards per catch, all career highs[5](https://www.nfl.com/news/dolphins-wr-will-fuller-on-teaming-with-jaylen-waddle-it-s-going-to-be-fun) |
| Suspension | Six games in 2020 for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs[5](https://www.nfl.com/news/dolphins-wr-will-fuller-on-teaming-with-jaylen-waddle-it-s-going-to-be-fun) |
| Teams | Houston Texans 2016-20, Miami Dolphins 2021[3](https://www.nfl.com/players/will-fuller/stats/) |
## College career at Notre Dame
Fuller played three seasons at Notre Dame, finishing with 144 catches for 2,512 receiving yards and 30 touchdowns, second to [Michael Floyd](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-floyd) (37) for the most receiving touchdowns in school history.[4](https://www.houstontexans.com/news/the-history-between-bill-o-brien-will-fuller-17080113) He had originally committed to Penn State, where Bill O'Brien was head coach in 2012 and 2013, before switching to Notre Dame; O'Brien, who had seen Fuller at a Penn State high school camp and offered him a scholarship, later described him as a bright, hardworking player who came highly recommended from Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly.[4](https://www.houstontexans.com/news/the-history-between-bill-o-brien-will-fuller-17080113)
Scouting reports ahead of the draft centered on his speed. [Pro Football Focus](https://www.edgepedia.org/pro-football-focus) noted that he dropped 10 of 72 catchable passes in 2015, a 13.9 percent drop rate that ranked 88th of 96 qualifying wide receivers, and projected him as a deep threat rather than a high-volume target, comparing him to Ted Ginn.[6](https://www.pff.com/news/draft-pff-scouting-report-will-fuller-wr-notre-dame) An NFL.com draft profile likewise called speed his greatest asset while flagging drops and a limited route tree as weaknesses.[7](https://www.nfl.com/news/are-fantasy-managers-in-good-hands-with-will-fuller-0ap3000000642654)
## Houston Texans (2016-2020)
As a rookie in 2016, Fuller caught 47 passes for 635 yards and 2 touchdowns, finishing third in the NFL among rookie wideouts in receiving yards and sixth in receptions. He was the first Texan ever to score a touchdown on both a reception and a punt return within a single game.[8](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/raiders/zq0zheubwaqipzszanli.pdf)
In 2017 he and teammate [DeAndre Hopkins](https://www.edgepedia.org/deandre-hopkins) combined for 20 receiving touchdowns, the most by any pair of teammates in the NFL that year and the most by any pair of Texans in franchise history.[9](https://static.www.nfl.com/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2024/MIA.pdf) His 2017 season covered 10 games with 28 catches for 423 yards and 7 touchdowns.[3](https://www.nfl.com/players/will-fuller/stats/)
**Injuries repeatedly cut seasons short.** In October 2018, after catching 5 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown in a 42-23 win over the Miami Dolphins, coach Bill O'Brien confirmed that Fuller had torn his anterior cruciate ligament and would miss the rest of the season; he finished 2018 with 32 catches for 503 yards and 4 touchdowns in 7 games.[10](https://as.com/us/us/2018/10/27/nfl/1540596340_873634.html) • [3](https://www.nfl.com/players/will-fuller/stats/) Through his first four seasons he averaged roughly 10 games played per year, missing 28 games over five campaigns with hamstring injuries, ligament tears, and fractures.[11](https://as.com/us/us/2021/03/19/nfl/1616111096_868005.html)
**2020 was his best season.** Playing every game before his suspension, Fuller set career highs with 53 catches, 879 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 16.6 yards per catch.[5](https://www.nfl.com/news/dolphins-wr-will-fuller-on-teaming-with-jaylen-waddle-it-s-going-to-be-fun) In December 2020 the NFL suspended him six games for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs, ending his Texans tenure; earlier that year the team had exercised his fifth-year option, a base salary of $10.162 million.[5](https://www.nfl.com/news/dolphins-wr-will-fuller-on-teaming-with-jaylen-waddle-it-s-going-to-be-fun) • [12](https://as.com/us/us/2020/12/01/nfl/1606782977_333580.html)
## Miami Dolphins (2021)
In March 2021 Fuller signed with the Miami Dolphins as an unrestricted free agent on a one-year contract reported at more than $10 million.[1](https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/miami-dolphins-sign-wr-william-fuller-v) • [11](https://as.com/us/us/2021/03/19/nfl/1616111096_868005.html) At the time of the signing, the Dolphins listed his five-year Houston total as 209 receptions for 3,110 yards (14.9 average) and 24 touchdowns, plus 12 receptions for 142 yards in three playoff starts.[1](https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/miami-dolphins-sign-wr-william-fuller-v) He served the remainder of the six-game suspension to open the 2021 season and appeared in just 2 games for Miami, with 4 catches for 26 yards, closing his NFL career with 55 games, 213 receptions, 3,136 yards, and 24 touchdowns.[5](https://www.nfl.com/news/dolphins-wr-will-fuller-on-teaming-with-jaylen-waddle-it-s-going-to-be-fun) • [3](https://www.nfl.com/players/will-fuller/stats/)
## Playing style
Fuller's game was built on vertical speed. NFL.com's draft profile described him as a receiver who stretched defenses, drew cushion from defensive backs, and was dangerous with the ball in his hands on bubble screens and short throws.[7](https://www.nfl.com/news/are-fantasy-managers-in-good-hands-with-will-fuller-0ap3000000642654) Fuller himself framed the threat plainly: "I think DBs, they're always going to fear speed."[13](https://www.nfl.com/news/texans-wr-will-fuller-if-i-can-stay-healthy-the-sky-is-the-limit) His career averages, 13.5 yards per catch with 24 touchdowns on 213 receptions, reflect that deep-threat profile, as does his single-season best of 16.6 yards per catch in 2020.[3](https://www.nfl.com/players/will-fuller/stats/) • [5](https://www.nfl.com/news/dolphins-wr-will-fuller-on-teaming-with-jaylen-waddle-it-s-going-to-be-fun)
## References
1. [Miami Dolphins Sign WR William Fuller V, MiamiDolphins.com](https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/miami-dolphins-sign-wr-william-fuller-v)
2. [Will Fuller Stats, Pro-Football-Reference.com](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FullWi01.htm)
3. [Will Fuller Stats Summary, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/players/will-fuller/stats/)
4. [The history between Bill O'Brien, Will Fuller, HoustonTexans.com](https://www.houstontexans.com/news/the-history-between-bill-o-brien-will-fuller-17080113)
5. [Dolphins WR Will Fuller on teaming with Jaylen Waddle, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/dolphins-wr-will-fuller-on-teaming-with-jaylen-waddle-it-s-going-to-be-fun)
6. [PFF scouting report: Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame](https://www.pff.com/news/draft-pff-scouting-report-will-fuller-wr-notre-dame)
7. [Are fantasy managers in good hands with Will Fuller?, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/are-fantasy-managers-in-good-hands-with-will-fuller-0ap3000000642654)
8. [Texans Bios: Will Fuller V, NFL.com](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/raiders/zq0zheubwaqipzszanli.pdf)
9. [Miami Dolphins 2024 Media Guide](https://static.www.nfl.com/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2024/MIA.pdf)
10. [El "volcán" DeShaun Watson hizo erupción en Houston, AS.com](https://as.com/us/us/2018/10/27/nfl/1540596340_873634.html)
11. [Reporte: Will Fuller firma con los Dolphins, AS.com](https://as.com/us/us/2021/03/19/nfl/1616111096_868005.html)
12. [Will Fuller es suspendido seis duelos, AS.com](https://as.com/us/us/2020/12/01/nfl/1606782977_333580.html)
13. [Texans WR Will Fuller: If I can stay healthy, 'the sky is the limit', NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/texans-wr-will-fuller-if-i-can-stay-healthy-the-sky-is-the-limit)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › American football players, coaches, and executives › Wide receivers › Retired NFL wide receivers › 2000s and later retired receivers › Surnames A to H*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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